Method and apparatus for managing data files stored in local storage

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for managing data files of a local storage is disclosed. The method for managing data files of a local storage includes the steps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting all files contained in the binding unit, deleting all files associated with a title including a specific file to be deleted, or deleting only the specific file to be deleted.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-0049468, filed on, Jun. 9, 2005, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/632,645, filed on Dec. 3, 2004, in the name of inventors Kang SooSEO, Jea Yong YOO, and Byung Jin Kim, entitled “METHOD OF MANAGING LOCALSTORAGE FOR HIGH DENSITY OPTICAL DISC”, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managingdata files stored in a local storage contained in an opticalrecording/reproducing device.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, there has been widely used an optical disc acting as arecording medium capable of recording a large amount of data therein.Particularly, there has recently been developed a high-density opticalrecording medium capable of recording/storing high-quality video dataand high-quality audio data for a long period of time, for example, aBlu-ray Disc (BD).

The BD based on the next-generation recording medium technique has beenconsidered to be the next-generation optical recording solution capableof storing much more data than a conventional DVD. In recent times, manydevelopers have conducted intensive research into the internationalstandard technical specification associated with the BD along with thoseof other digital devices.

In association with the above-mentioned situation, there has recentlybeen developed an optical recording/reproducing device based on the BDinternational standard, but the BD international standard has not yetbeen completed, such that many limitations and problems occur indeveloping the optical recording/reproducing device.

Particularly, the above-mentioned optical recording/reproducing devicemust consider not only a basic function for recording/reproducing dataof the BD, but also an additional function for enabling the opticalrecording/reproducing device to interact with peripheral digitaldevices. In other words, the optical recording/reproducing device mustreceive an external input signal, must display the received signal, andmust reproduce desired data using the external input signal and the BD.

However, a method for deleting local storage data to simultaneouslyreproduce a downloaded external input signal and data of the BD and toeffectively manage data stored in the local storage has not yet beenestablished, such that many limitations and problems occur in developinga BD-based optical recording/reproducing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatusfor managing data files stored in a local storage that substantiallyobviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of therelated art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor effectively managing data files stored in a local storage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for deleting data files stored in a local storage in discunits, content units, or content units.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, amethod for managing data files of a local storage comprises the stepsof: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider,storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming abinding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command fordeleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting allfiles contained in the binding unit.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodfor managing data files of a local storage comprising the steps of: a)downloading at least one data file from a content provider, storing thedownloaded data file in the local storage, and forming a binding unitusing the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting aspecific file contained in the binding unit, simultaneously deleting allfiles associated with a title including the specific file to be deleted.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for managing data files of a local storage comprising the stepsof: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider,storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming abinding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command fordeleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting onlythe specific file to be deleted, and correcting a database fileassociated with the deletion of the file.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided anapparatus for managing data files of a local storage comprising: apickup unit for reading data from a recording medium; a local storagefor downloading at least one file associated with the recording mediumdata, and storing the downloaded file; and a controller for forming abinding unit using the file stored in the local storage, and deleting aspecific file or specific files from the binding unit in disc units,title units, or content units.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method and apparatus forreproducing data from a recording medium according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a file structure recorded inan optical disc acting as a recording medium and a method forreproducing a specific title using the file structure;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram illustrating a data record structure ofan optical disc acting as a recording medium according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating an optical recording/reproducingdevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for reproducingdata using a local storage from among overall components contained inthe optical recording/reproducing device according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A˜5B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deletinglocal storage data in accordance with a first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage isconfigured in disc units (i.e., per disc);

FIGS. 6A˜6B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deletinglocal storage data in accordance with a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage isconfigured in title units (i.e., per title); and

FIGS. 7A˜7B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deletinglocal storage data in accordance with a third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage isconfigured in content units (i.e., per content).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A method and apparatus for deleting local storage data according to thepresent invention will hereinafter be described with reference to theannexed drawings.

Prior to describing the present invention, it should be noted that mostterms disclosed in the present invention correspond to general termswell known in the art, but some terms have been selected by theapplicant as necessary and will hereinafter be disclosed in thefollowing description of the present invention. Therefore, it ispreferable that the terms defined by the applicant be understood on thebasis of their meanings in the present invention.

A recording medium for use in the present invention is indicative of allrecordable mediums, for example, an optical disc, and a magnetic tape,etc., according to various recording schemes.

For the convenience of description and better understanding of thepresent invention, the optical disc, such as a BD, will hereinafter beexemplarily used as the above-mentioned recording medium in the presentinvention. It should be noted that technical ideas of the presentinvention can be applied to other recording mediums without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention.

The term “local storage” is indicative of a storage unit contained in anoptical recording/reproducing device 10 shown in FIG. 1. In more detail,the term “local storage” is indicative of a component capable ofreceiving necessary information or data from a user, and storing thereceived information or data. For example, a general local storage maybe indicative of a Hard Disc Drive (HDD), but it should be noted thatthe term “local storage” of the present invention is not limited to theHDD, and is applicable to other examples as necessary.

Particularly, the term “local storage” is indicative of a storage unitfor storing data associated with a recording medium such as a BD. Thedata associated with the recording medium is generally downloaded froman external device.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a directory areacapable of storing the downloaded data of the local storage is referredto as a local storage file structure.

In association with the above-mentioned description, it is obvious tothose skilled in the art that the local storage may directly read somepermission data from the recording medium, and may generate system data(e.g., metadata) associated with record/reproduction operations of therecording medium, such that the system data may be stored in the localstorage.

The term “binding unit” is indicative of a set of files stored in thelocal storage. Particularly, the binding unit is indicative of a set ofinformation (i.e., information set) associated with a specific recordingmedium. In this case, the information set is combined with or is addedto a file contained in the recording medium, such that it cansimultaneously reproduce data of the recording medium and data of thelocal storage.

For the convenience of description, data recorded in the recordingmedium is referred to as “original data”, data associated with therecording medium from among a plurality of data units stored in thelocal storage is referred to as “additional data”.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method and apparatus forreproducing data according to the present invention. Unified usages ofthe optical recording/reproducing 10 and peripheral devices are shown inFIG. 1.

The optical recording/reproducing device 10 can record/reproduce datain/from various optical discs having different formats. If necessary,the optical recording/reproducing device 10 can record/reproducespecific data in/from only a specific optical disc such as a BD, or canreproduce the data from the optical disc without recording the data inthe same. It should be noted that the present invention exemplarily usesa BD-player capable of reproducing data from the BD or a BD-recordercapable of recording data in the BD in consideration of correlationbetween the BD and peripheral devices for the convenience ofdescription. It is well known in the art that the opticalrecording/reproduction device 10 is also applicable to a drive embeddedin a specific device such as a computer.

The optical recording/reproducing device 10 records or reproduces datain/from the optical disc 30, receives an external input signal, performsa signal process on the received signal, and transmits the signalprocessed result to the external display 20, such that a user can viewthe signal processed result on the display 20. In this case, there is nolimitation in a receivable external signal. For example, representativeexternal input signals may be determined to be a DTV-associated signaland an Internet-associated signal, etc. Specifically, the Internet isindicative of a communication network to which a user easily gainsaccess, such that the user can download specific Internet data using theoptical recording/reproducing device 10, and can use the downloadeddata.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a person forproviding content data used as an external source is generally referredto as a content provider (CP).

For example, it is assumed that multiplexed AV (Audio/Video) streams arerecorded as the original data recorded in the optical disc, andadditional data for use in the Internet is an audio stream differentfrom an audio stream (e.g., Korean) of the original data. In this case,some users may download a specific audio stream (e.g., English) actingas additional data from the Internet, may desire to reproduce thedownloaded audio stream along with the AV stream acting as originaldata, or may desire to reproduce only the additional data. In order toimplement the above-mentioned desires of the users, correlation betweenthe original data and the additional data must be established, and thereis needed a systemized method for managing/reproducing theabove-mentioned data according to a user request.

For the convenience of description, although a signal recorded in thedisc is called the original data, and other signals existing in theoutside of the disc are called the additional data, it should be notedthat the original data and the additional data are not limited to onlyspecific data.

Generally, additional data may be indicative of audio data, presentationgraphic (PG) data, interactive graphic (IG) data, or text subtitle,etc., but the additional data may also be indicative of a multiplexed AVstream including the above-mentioned data and video data. In otherwords, data associated with the original data simultaneously existing inthe outside of the optical disc may act as additional data.

When original data is recorded in the optical disc 30 seated in theoptical recording/reproducing device 10, and additional data associatedwith the original data is present in other storage places (e.g.,Internet), the present invention deletes unnecessary files, forms abinding unit to be combined with original data, such that it reproducesthe original data and the additional data at the same time. In addition,if a local storage must be empty to download new data from an externalcontent provider (CP), the present invention provides a method fordeleting additional data files stored in the local storage.

In order to satisfy the above-mentioned original and additional datadesired by a user, a predetermined file structure must be establishedbetween the original data and the additional data. Accordingly, a filestructure and data record structure for use in the BD will hereinafterbe described with reference to FIGS. 2˜3.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a file structure forreproducing/managing the original data recorded in an optical disc, anda method for reproducing a specific title according to the filestructure.

An example of the above-mentioned file structure is shown in FIG. 2. Thefile structure according to the present invention includes one or moreBD directories (BDMV) under a single root directory. The BD directory(BDMV) includes not only an index file “index” acting as a general file(i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeing user interactivity, butalso the above-mentioned object. The file structure includes a varietyof directories for storing information of actual data recorded in a discand other information associated with a method for reproducing the data,for example, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST), a clip informationdirectory (CLIPINF), a stream directory (STREAM), an auxiliary directory(AUXDATA), and a backup directory (BACKUP). The above-mentioneddirectories and a variety of files included in the directory willhereinafter be described.

The AUXDATA directory includes an additional data file for reproducingdata of the disc. For example, the AUXDATA directory includes a“Sound.bdmv” file for providing a user with sound data when aninteractive graphic function is executed, and an “11111.otf” file forproviding the user with font information when data of the disc isreproduced.

The stream directory (STREAM) includes a plurality of AV stream filesrecorded in a disc according to a specific format. Generally, individualstreams are recorded using an MPEG-2 based transport packet, and thestream directory (STREAM) uses extension names of stream files(01000.m2ts and 02000.m2ts) as a specific extension name “*.m2ts”.Particularly, if video/audio/graphic information from among theabove-mentioned streams is multiplexed, the multiplexed information iscalled an AV stream, and a single title is composed of at least one AVstream file.

The clip information (Clip-info) directory (CLIPINF) is composed of aplurality of clip-info files (01000.clpi and 02000.clpi) connected tothe above-mentioned stream files on a one-to-one basis. Particularly,the clip-info files (*.clpi) record attribute information and timinginformation of the stream files (*.m2ts) therein. The clip-info files(*.Clpi) connected to the stream files (*.m2ts) on a one-to-one basisare generically named a “Clip”. In other words, this means that a singleclip is indicative of data composed of a stream file (*.m2ts) and aclip-info file (*.clpi). A clip recorded in the disc is referred to asan original clip. A clip, which is downloaded and stored in a localstorage, is referred to as an additional clip.

The playlist directory (PLAYLIST) includes a plurality of playlist files(*.mpls). Each playlist file (*.mpls) includes one or more playitems(PlayItem) and one or more sub-playitems (SubPlayItem). Each playitem(PlayItem) and each sub-playitem (SubPlayItem) are adapted to designatea playing interval during which a specific clip is reproduced. Theplayitem (PlayItem) and the sub-playitem (SubPlayItem) includeinformation associated with a specific clip to be reproduced, i.e.,information associated with a reproduction start time (IN-Time) andother information associated with a reproduction termination time(OUT-Time) of the specific clip.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a process forreproducing data using at least one playitem (PlayItem) in the playlistfile is referred to as a main path, and a process for reproducing datausing individual sub-play items (SubPlayItem) is referred to as asub-path. The playlist file must contain a single main path. Theplaylist file may contain at least one sub-path according to thepresence or absence of the sub-playitem (SubPlayItem) as necessary.

In conclusion, the playlist file acts as a basic reproduction/managementfile unit contained in overall reproduction/management file structuresfor reproducing a desired clip by combination of one or more playitems(PlayItem).

The backup directory (BACKUP) stores a plurality of duplicate files,i.e., a duplicate file (also called “copied files”) of the index file“index” storing information associated with disc reproduction, aduplicate file of the object file “MovieObject”, duplicate files of allplaylist files (*.mpls) contained in the playlist directory (PLAYLIST),and duplicate files of all clip-info files (*.clpi) contained in theclip-info directory (CLIPINF). If the above-mentioned files (“index”,“MovieObject”, “*.mpls”, and “*.clpi”) are damaged, a disc reproductionprocess is also fatally damaged, such that the backup directory (BACKUP)is designed to pre-store duplicate files of the above-mentioned files asbackup files.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a method forreproducing a specific title using the above-mentioned disc filestructure is shown in FIG. 2.

If a user enters a title reproduction command in association with atitle used as an index file (also called “index table”), reproduction ofthe title begins. A detailed description thereof will hereinafter bedescribed.

The index file (index.bdmv) includes first playback information “FirstPlayback” indicative of information associated with a first reproductionimage when data of a corresponding disc is loaded, top menu information“Top Menu” for providing a menu image, and at least one titleinformation “Title #1˜Title #n”.

If the optical disc 30 is loaded in the optical recording/reproducingdevice 10, title menu information associated with the index table isprovided to the user via the display 20. If the user selects a specifictitle or a specific menu contained in a menu image, data reproductionbegins according to a scenario pre-defined by a disc manufacturer. Inother words, if the user enters a command for reproducing a specifictitle (e.g., title #1), a specific playlist file is executed accordingto a command contained in the object file (MovieObject) of thereproduction/management file structure. Thereafter, one or more clips(e.g., Clip #1˜Clip #3) constructing the title #1 are reproduced by aspecific playitem and/or sub-playitem contained in the playlist fileaccording to the playlist file information.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram illustrating a data record structurerecorded in a recording medium according to the present invention. Inmore detail, FIG. 3 shows a disc record format of information associatedwith the file structure. As shown in FIG. 3, from the viewpoint of aninner area of the disc, the above-mentioned disc structure sequentiallyincludes a file system information area serving as system informationfor managing overall files, a database area for recording a playlistfile and a clip-info file to reproduce a recorded AV stream (*.m2ts),and an AV stream area for recording a plurality of streams composed ofaudio data, video data, and graphic data, etc. Particularly, it shouldbe noted that data recorded in the AV stream area may be determined tobe original data as previously stated above.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for downloadingexternal additional data in a local storage, and deleting specific datafrom the downloaded data upon receiving a request command from a user,before reproducing original data (e.g., a file structure shown in FIG.2) recorded in the disc and additional data recorded in the localstorage, such that a variety of preferred embodiments according to thepresent invention will hereinafter be described.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating the opticalrecording/reproducing device 10 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the optical recording/reproducing device 10includes a pickup unit 11, a servo unit 14, a signal processor 13, and amicroprocessor 16. The pickup unit 11 reproduces original data recordedin the optical disc and management information includingreproduction/management file information. The servo unit 14 controlsoperations of the pickup unit 11. The signal processor 13 receives areproduction signal from the pickup unit 11, restores the receivedreproduction signal to a desired signal value, or modulates a signal tobe recorded into another signal recorded in the optical disc, such thatit transmits the restored or modulated result. The microprocessor 16controls mutual operations of the above-mentioned components.

A controller 12 downloads additional data existing outside of theoptical disc upon receiving a command from a user, stores the downloadedadditional data in the local storage 15, and configures a virtual filesystem (VFS) to reproduce the original data recorded in the optical discand the additional data stored in the local storage. The controller 12forms a virtual package including the original data and associatedadditional data using the VFS, and reproduces the original data and/orthe additional data using the formed virtual package upon receiving arequest from a user.

In this case, the virtual file system (VFS) is indicative of a virtualfile system which unifies a file system contained in the local storage15 and a file system of the loaded disc such that it manages the unifiedsystem.

In order to simultaneously reproduce the original data contained in thedisc and the additional data contained in the local storage using thevirtual file system (VFS), a new virtual package is formed. The virtualpackage formed by the binding operation acts as a reproductionmanagement file structure for reproducing/managing an original clipcomposed of the original data of the disc and an additional clipcomposed of the additional data of the local storage. In this case, theoriginal clip and the additional clip are stored in different areas.

In association with the local storage 15, a local storage file structureincludes a binding unit whose additional data associated with originaldata is configured in disc units, title units, or content units.Therefore, the additional data is stored in the local storage filestructure.

The controller 12 forms a local storage file structure in the localstorage 15, and controls external data in the local storage filestructure. In addition, the controller 12 controls a function forstoring the downloaded data in the local storage file structure, and afunction for deleting user-selected files contained in the downloadeddata from the local storage file structure.

A decoder 17 finally decodes output data (i.e., original data and/oradditional data) upon receiving a control signal from the controller 12,and provides the user with the decoded result.

An encoder 18 converts an input signal into a specific format signal(e.g., an MPEG2 transport stream) upon receiving a control signal fromthe controller 12, and transmits the converted result to the signalprocessor 13.

The new virtual package may be stored in the local storage 15 such thatit can be re-used in the future. Also, the new virtual package may betemporarily stored in an additional dynamic memory, and may then beused.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for reproducingdata of an optical disc using a local storage from among overallcomponents contained in the optical recording/reproducing device 10according to the present invention.

Information stored in the local storage 15 will hereinafter bedescribed. The local storage 15 according to the present inventionstores file information (Directory-File Tree Information for Disc_id #n)including directories and files for every individual disc identification(ID) information, and a plurality of additional clips downloaded from anexternal part. A binding unit of the local storage 15 is formed, and thebinding unit manifest files including binding unit manifest informationfor a binding operation associated with a disc file structure (i.e., adisc package) may be formed.

Specifically, the local storage 15 may include a plurality of fileinformation units (Directory-File for disc_IDs #n dependent) to copewith different discs. Therefore, the local storage 15 additionallyrequires a file system for managing the above-mentioned file informationunits. Specifically, the file system is also referred to as a localstorage file system 41, and the local storage file system 41 isindicative of a system for managing all files stored in the localstorage 15.

Therefore, if an optical disc (e.g., disc_ID #1) of a specific disc ID(disc_ID) is loaded in the optical recording/reproducing device 10, thecontroller 12 contained in the optical recording/reproducing device 10recognizes ID information of the disc using the pickup unit 11 and thesignal processor 13. If the local storage 15 stores file information,the controller reads binding unit file information equal to the loadeddisc ID information from among all file information units stored in thelocal storage 15, forms a virtual package by binding (or combining) theread information and the disc package, and reproduces both the originaldata of the disc and the additional data of the local storage using theformed virtual package.

However, if the data pre-downloaded from the external content provider(CP) is not stored in the local storage file structure, i.e., if no fileinformation is contained in the local storage 15, the data downloadedfrom the content provider (CP) acting as an external input source isdownloaded in the local storage file structure, such that a binding unitis formed. And, the controller 12 reads the binding unit fileinformation, and forms a virtual package by binding (or combining) theread information and the disc package.

If data downloaded from the external content provider (CP) is stored indisc units, title units, or content units, the present inventionprovides a method and apparatus for deleting data files from the localstorage file structure upon receiving a deletion command from a user.

In association with a method for downloading data in a local storage anddeleting the downloaded data from the local storage, a local storagebinding unit configured in disc units (i.e., per disc), a local storagebinding unit configured in title units (i.e., per title), and a localstorage binding unit configured in content units (i.e., per content)will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 5A˜7B.

FIGS. 5A˜5B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deletinglocal storage data in accordance with a first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage isconfigured in disc units (i.e., per disc).

The local storage file structure includes a binding unit data(BindingUnitData) directory including a plurality of binding units in aroot directory. The local storage file structure may include anorganization directory (e.g., org_ID #1) indicative of a contentprovider (CP) equal to a disc author in the binding unit data(BindingUnitData) directory. The organization directory (org_ID #1)includes a plurality of specific disc directories (disc_ID) and a shareddirectory (Shared) in the org_ID directory of the content provider.

A method for deleting local storage data according to the presentinvention will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 5B.

Referring to FIG. 5B, if a disc is loaded in an opticalrecording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing devicedownloads additional data from an external content provider (CP), formsa local storage file structure in disc units, and stores the localstorage file structure in a local storage at step S10.

When the local storage downloads data from the external content provider(CP), the controller of the optical recording/reproducing device forms abinding unit acting as a local storage file structure in disc unitsusing a BDJ application serving as a download application, and downloadsthe additional data.

The local storage file structure including the downloaded data includesa disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) and another specific directory(disc_ID #1) in a directory (e.g., org_ID #1) for each content provider(CP). A BD directory (BDMV) indicative of a binding unit 60 is containedin the disc specific directory (disc_ID #1).

The binding unit 60 indicated by the BDMV directory is configured indisc units. The binding unit 60 includes an index file (index.bdmv) 61acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeinguser interactivity, an object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 62, a playlistdirectory (PLAYLIST) composed of playlist files (00000.mpls:63 and00002.mpls:64), a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) composed of a clip-infofile (01002.clpi) 65, and a stream directory (STREAM) composed of astream file (01002.m2ts) 66 in the BDMV directory.

After performing the above step S10, the optical recording/reproducingdevice determines the presence of a command for deleting specific disc(disc #1) files downloaded/stored in the local storage at step S11.

If the absence of the aforementioned deletion command for deleting thespecific disc (disc #1) files is determined, the opticalrecording/reproducing device does not delete all files of the specificdisc at step S12.

If the presence of the deletion command for deleting the specific disc(disc #1) files is determined at step S11, the opticalrecording/reproducing device deletes all files of a specific disc fromthe local storage file structure at step S13, such that it can deletethe binding unit 60.

Preferably, the deletion of the specific disc files at the above stepS13 may be executed by a resident application of the controllercontained in the optical recording/reproducing device, such that itmeans that all downloaded content data of the binding unit for the discis deleted.

Also, all the content data of the binding unit is deleted at step S13,there is no need to modify a data structure of an index table of theindex file (index.bdmv) and/or an object file (MovieObject.bdmv).

Therefore, the local storage file structure deleted by the above stepS13 includes only the disc specific directory (disc_ID #2) in adirectory (e.g., org_ID #1 directory) for each content provider (CP).

FIGS. 6A-6B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deletinglocal storage data in accordance with a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage isconfigured in title units (i.e., per title).

The basic directory structure of the local storage in FIG. 6A is equalto that of FIG. 5A. Differently from the first preferred embodiment ofFIG. 5, files contained in individual directories of the binding unit 70of the local storage file structure are changed according to individualtitles, and a detailed description thereof will hereinafter be describedwith reference to FIGS. 6A˜6B.

Referring to FIGS. 6A˜6B, if a disc is loaded in an opticalrecording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing devicedownloads additional data from an external content provider (CP), formsa local storage file structure in title units, and stores the localstorage file structure in a local storage at step S20.

When the local storage downloads data from the external content provider(CP), the controller of the optical recording/reproducing device forms abinding unit acting as a local storage file structure in title unitsusing a BDJ application serving as a download application, and downloadsthe additional data.

In association with specific information indicating whether files of thebinding unit 70 contained in the local storage file structure areindicative of files of a specific title, the local storage downloads notonly data but also the file information of the titles. In this case, itis obvious to those skilled in the art that the local storage downloadsnot only first information indicating that specific files(00000.mpls:74, 01002.clpi:76, and 01002.m2ts:77) are equal to filesassociated with the title #1 binding unit, but also second informationindicating that a specific file (00002.mpls) 75 is equal to a fileassociated with the title #2 binding unit while it downloads data fromthe external content provider (CP).

Specifically, it should be noted that specific information, whichindicates whether files of the binding unit 70 contained in theaforementioned local storage file structure are equal to files of aspecific title, may be included in information of the binding unitmanifest files downloaded from the content provider (CP).

The local storage file structure including the downloaded data includesa disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) and another specific directory(disc_ID #1) in a directory (e.g., org_ID #1) for each content provider(CP). A BD directory (BDMV) indicative of a binding unit 70 is containedin the disc specific directory (disc_ID #1).

The binding unit 70 indicated by the BDMV directory is configured intitle units. The binding unit 70 includes an index file (index.bdmv) 71acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeinguser interactivity, a title #1's object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 72, atitle #2's object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 73, a playlist directory(PLAYLIST) composed of playlist files (00000.mpls:74 and 00002.mpls:75),a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) composed of a clip-info file(01002.clpi) 76, and a stream directory (STREAM) composed of a streamfile (01002.m2ts) 77 in the BDMV directory.

In this case, the object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 72, the playlist file(00000.mpls) 74, the clip-info file (01002.clpi) 76, and the stream file(01002.m2ts) 77 from among the aforementioned files of the binding unit70 are available for the title #1. The object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 73and the playlist file (00002.mpls) 75 are available for the title #2.

After performing the above step S20, the optical recording/reproducingdevice determines the presence of a command for deleting specific title(Title #1) files downloaded/stored in the local storage at step S21.

If the absence of the aforementioned deletion command for deleting thespecific title (Title #1) files is determined, the opticalrecording/reproducing device does not delete the files of the specifictitle (Title #1) at step S22.

If the presence of the deletion command for deleting the specific title(Title #1) files is determined at step S21, the opticalrecording/reproducing device deletes the files of a specific title(Title #1) from the local storage file structure at step S23.

In other words, a plurality of files of the specific title (Title #1)(i.e., the object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 72, the playlist file(00000.mpls) 74, the clip-info file (01002.clpi) 76, and the stream file(01002.m2ts) 77) are deleted from the binding unit 70 at step S23.

Preferably, the deletion of the specific title files at the above stepS23 may be executed by a resident application of the controllercontained in the optical recording/reproducing device, such that itmeans that all downloaded content data of the binding unit for the title#1 is deleted.

After performing the above step S23, the optical recording/reproducingdevice modifies a database structure of a specific file from among thefiles of the local storage at step S24. For example, an index table ofan index file (Index.bdmv) 71-1 may be modified according to a titleformed after the database structure is deleted, or a database structureof the object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 73 may be modified.

Therefore, according to the local storage file structure formed afterthe aforementioned files are deleted/modified by the above steps, thebinding unit 70-1 includes an index file (Index.bdmv) 71-1 having amodified database file structure, an object file (Movieobject2.bdmv) 73,a playlist directory (PLAYLIST) equipped with a playlist file(00002.mpls) 75 for the title #2, a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) havingno files, and a stream directory (STREAM) having no files in the BDMVdirectory.

FIGS. 7A˜7B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a method for deletinglocal storage data in accordance with a third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, in which a binding unit of the local storage isconfigured in content units (i.e., per content).

Referring to FIGS. 7A˜7B, if a disc is loaded in an opticalrecording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing devicedownloads additional data from an external content provider (CP), formsa local storage file structure in content units, and stores the localstorage file structure in a local storage at step S30.

When the local storage downloads data from the external content provider(CP), the controller of the optical recording/reproducing device forms abinding unit acting as a local storage file structure in content unitsusing a BDJ application serving as a download application, and downloadsthe additional data.

The local storage file structure including the downloaded data includesa disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) and another specific directory(disc_ID #1) in a directory (e.g., org_ID #1) for each content provider(CP). The BDMV directory indicative of a binding unit 80 is contained inthe disc specific directory (disc_ID #1).

The binding unit 80 indicated by the BDMV directory is configured incontent units. The binding unit 80 includes an index file (index.bdmv)81 acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable ofguaranteeing user interactivity, an object file (MovieObject.bdmv) 82, aplaylist directory (PLAYLIST) composed of playlist files(00000.00.mpls:83, 00000.01.mpls:84, and 00002.mpls:85), a clip-infodirectory (CLIPINF) composed of clip-info files (01002.clpi:86 and01003.clpi:87), and a stream directory (STREAM) composed of a streamfile (01002.m2ts:88 and 01003.m2ts:89) in the BDMV directory.

In this case, the playlist file (00000.00.mpls) 83, the clip-info file(01002.clpi) 86, and the stream file (01002.m2ts) 88 from among theaforementioned files of the binding unit 80 are available for thecontent #1. The playlist file (00000.01.mpls) 84, the clip-info file(01003.clpi) 87, and the stream file (01003.m2ts) 89 are available forthe title #2.

After performing the above step S30, the optical recording/reproducingdevice determines the presence of a command for deleting specificcontent (Content #1) files downloaded/stored in the local storage atstep S31.

If the absence of the aforementioned deletion command for deleting thespecific content (Content #1) files is determined at step S31, theoptical recording/reproducing device does not delete the files of thespecific content (Content #1) at step S32.

If the presence of the deletion command for deleting the specificcontent (Content #1) files is determined at step S31, the opticalrecording/reproducing device deletes the files of a specific content(Content #1) from the local storage file structure at step S33.

In other words, a plurality of files of the specific content (Content#1) (i.e., the playlist file (00000.00.mpls) 83, the clip-info file(01002.clpi) 86, and the stream file (01002.m2ts) 88) are deleted fromthe binding unit 80 at step S33.

Preferably, the deletion of the specific content files at the above stepS33 may be executed by a resident application of the controllercontained in the optical recording/reproducing device, such that itmeans that all downloaded content data of the binding unit for thecontent is deleted.

After performing the above step S33, the optical recording/reproducingdevice modifies a database structure of a specific file from among thefiles of the local storage at step S34. For example, an index table of apartial index file (Index.bdmv) 81-1 and a database structure of theobject file (MovieObject.bdmv) 8201 may be mofidied according to acontent formed after the database structure is deleted.

Therefore, according to the local storage file structure formed afterthe aforementioned files are deleted/modified by the above steps, thebinding unit 80-1 includes an index file (Index.bdmv) 81-1 having amodified database file structure for the content #2, an object file(MovieObject.bdmv) 82-1, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST) equipped withplaylist files (00000.01.mpls:84 and 00002.mpls:85) for the content #2,a clip-info directory (CLIPINF) composed of a clip-info file(01003.clpi) 87, and a stream directory (STREAM) composed of a streamfile (01003.m2ts) 89 in the BDMV directory.

In association with the above-mentioned description, provided that thebinding unit configured in content units is damaged or corrupted, theaforementioned method for deleting data of the binding unit in contentunits can delete only the damaged or corrupted content data. However, ifdata of the binding unit is deleted in disc units, all disc files may bedeleted. If data of the binding unit is deleted in title units, alltitle files may be deleted.

As apparent from the above description, a method and apparatus fordeleting local storage data according to the present invention candelete data from the binding unit of the local storage file structure indisc units, title units, or content units, such that it can maximallyuse the local storage having limited capacity. Also, the presentinvention can effectively reproduce original data recorded in arecording medium and additional data downloaded from an external part,resulting in the creation of more convenient functions for a user.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for managing data files of a local storage comprising thesteps of: a) downloading at least one data file from a content provider,storing the downloaded data file in the local storage, and forming abinding unit using the stored file; and b) upon receiving a command fordeleting a specific file contained in the binding unit, deleting allfiles contained in the binding unit.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the data file is stored in the local storage in units of acorresponding disc.
 3. A method for managing data files of a localstorage comprising the steps of: a) downloading at least one data filefrom a content provider, storing the downloaded data file in the localstorage, and forming a binding unit using the stored file; and b) uponreceiving a command for deleting a specific file contained in thebinding unit, deleting all files associated with a title including thespecific file to be deleted.
 4. The method according to claim 3, whereinthe binding unit includes information associated with the title (i.e.,title-associated information).
 5. The method according to claim 3,further comprising the step of: after deleting the overall filesassociated with the title, modifying a database file contained in thebinding unit.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the databasefile is indicative of an index file.
 7. The method according to claim 5,wherein the database file is indicative of an object file.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the data file is stored in the localstorage in title units for each disc.
 9. The method according to claim3, wherein the title-associated information is contained in a bindingunit manifest file, and is then downloaded.
 10. A method for managingdata files of a local storage comprising the steps of: a) downloading atleast one data file from a content provider, storing the downloaded datafile in the local storage, and forming a binding unit using the storedfile; and b) upon receiving a command for deleting a specific filecontained in the binding unit, deleting only the specific file to bedeleted, and correcting a database file associated with the deletion ofthe file.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the data file isstored in the local storage in content units for each disc.
 12. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein: a local storage file structureconfigured in content units includes a playlist file per content. 13.The method according to claim 10, wherein the database file isindicative of an index file.
 14. The method according to claim 10,wherein the database file is indicative of an object file.
 15. Anapparatus for managing data files of a local storage comprising: apickup unit for reading data from a recording medium; a local storagefor downloading at least one file associated with the recording mediumdata, and storing the downloaded file; and a controller for forming abinding unit using the file stored in the local storage, and deleting aspecific file or specific files from the binding unit in disc units,title units, or content units.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the controller includes a BDJ application such that itdownloads/stores the file in the local storage using the BDJapplication.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein thecontroller includes a resident application such that it deletes aspecific file or specific files from the binding unit using the residentapplication.